Lowland League | Spartans get their starter for three points in University challenge

Posted on Sunday, August 4th, 2019

Spartans made hay whilst the sun shone at Ainslie Park with a 2-0 win over Edinburgh University in the Lowland League.

Dean Hoskins broke the deadlock early in the game with a cheeky lob and the points were secured late in the second half when Cameron Dawson headed home with gusto. New signing Max Ashmore made his Spartans debut in a victory that also saw the Students reduced to 10 men in the closing stages.

After a disappointing opening fixture defeat midweek, Dougie Samuel shuffled his pack for the arrival of Edinburgh University to the Academy, looking to maintain their unbeaten Lowland League run against the Students.

It looked like this was to be case from as early as the sixth minute when Dean Hoskins made it two goals in as many games when he latched onto a loose ball and lobbed Kieran McDougall to give Spartans the lead.

The Students meanwhile were seeking their first goal in the competition and but for the superlative backtracking and tackle from Alan Brown, their duck may well have been broken.

Some super one-touch play from the hosts saw them dominate throughout and there was a matter of inches between Aaron Murrell and his side extending the lead as the striker, in his second spell at the club, saw his effort narrowly clear the bar.

Shortly before the sides headed to the sheds for their half time chat and perhaps some respite from the sunshine, Adam Corbett rose like a freshwater salmon at a corner, only for his header to rattle off the bar.

HT: The Spartans 2-0 Edinburgh University

The second half carried on in the same fashion as the first finished. Spartans taking the game to the Students and Gregor Woods was unlucky not to find the target from 10 yards out.

With one eye perhaps on Wednesday’s Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup tie against Motherwell, Samuel made a brace of changes. Jack Smith and Cameron Dawson were introduced at the expense of Max Ashmore and Aaron Murrell.

Some may say it was a matter of tactical genius when midway through the half, substitute Dawson scored. A pinpoint cross into the box by Gregor Woods found Cameron Dawson who powered his header into the back of the net.

One final replacement saw teenager Nicky Reid gain further Lowland League minutes when he came on for Scott Maxwell.

There was to be one more moment of note with five minutes left on the clock. Jack Smith looked to be winning the footrace to run onto a through ball and gallop towards goal only for Ross McGuire to unceremoniously scythe down the Spartans striker just outside the box. It was the easiest decision of the afternoon for referee Peter Stuart who brandished a straight red.

Nicky Reid counted himself decidedly unlucky with the resultant free-kick when he cleared the wall but could only find the crossbar to prevent a third.